Collective Climate Action: Community responses to flooding in Thabaung township in the Ayeyarwady delta, Myanmar

Abstract

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, influenced by climate change. One of the most vulnerable countries to climate change is Myanmar, in Southeast Asia. Adaptation to climate change is important for the socio-economic developments of the country. The political climate in Myanmar is dynamic, and has shifted from military rule to a quasi-civilian government over the course of ten years. The increasing level and amount of flooding has been pressuring Myanmar for the last twenty years, especially in the Ayeyarwady delta. Devastating natural disasters as cyclone Nargis (2008) and Komen (2015) have highlighted the capabilities of communities themselves, in organizing a response. Literature emphasizes the importance of social capital and collective action, in adapting to a changing climate. As communities in the Ayeyarwady delta are increasingly exposed to natural hazards, how does it affect their livelihoods and community? This master thesis is a bottom-up approach to researching the subject of collective action in relation to climate change. It will give insights on how communities deal with the direct and indirect consequences of flooding, when exposed over an extended period of time. The fieldwork is conducted in March 2019, and is reflective of that time period.